Foldable locking tab for carton content



July 2,- 1968 A. J. WEISS FOLDABLE LOCKING TAB FOR CARTON CONTENT FiledFeb. 9, 1965 United States Patent This invention relates in general to anew locking tab for cartons particularly adapted to receive containersof the type having recessed end panels and surrounding axialprojections. r

This invention particularly relates to cartons of the wrap-around typewhich are wrapped around and interlocked with a plurality of likecontainers arranged in one or more rows. Cartons of the type to whichthis invention relates are provided with open ends through which it ispossible for containers to slide if they are not properly interlockedwith the carton. In the past it has been proposed to provide lockingtabs which project down into the recessed ends of the containers forlocking engagement behind the axial projections of the containers, suchprojections being chimes or seams when the containers are cans. Thelocking tabs are struck out of the material of the cartons and arenormally reversely folded. However, the locking tabs, after a period oftime, assume relaxed positions with the result that they do not fullyseat against the end panels and it is possible for the containers, suchas cans, to slide past the locking tabs.

It is the purpose of this invention to provide a novel locking tab ofthe type set forth above wherein full seating 'of the locking tab withinthe recessed end of the container is assured at all times. This isaccomplished by spacing the body portion of the locking tab from theassociated carton panel in a positive manner. The body portion of thelocking tab has a terminal flap which is reversely folded with respectto the body portion and which is positioned between the body portion andthe carton panel to assure the proper spacing of the remote end of thebody portion from the carton pane]. That end of the body portion whichis directly attached to the carton panel is attached thereto by means ofa relatively wide fold line type hinge which, when the body portion isreversely folded relative to the carton panel, provides a relativelywide offset connecting portion which effects the necessary spacing ofthe body portion from the carton panel.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear,the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by referenceto the following detailed description, the appended claims and theseveral views illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a carton formed in accordance withthis invention and shows the same in its wrap-around state as it wouldappear when it is wrapped around two rows of containers.

\ FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view takenalong the line 22 of FIGURE 1 and shows the specific details of thecarton and the relationship thereof with respect to containerspositioned therein, the containers being shown in phantom lines.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse vertical sectional viewtaken along the line 33 of FIGURE 1 and shows further the specificdetails of the interlock between the carton and containers disposed intwo rows, the containers again being shown inphantom lines.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the blank from which the cartonof FIGURE 1 is formed and shows the specific details of a panel of theblank containing the locking tabs.

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7 FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary bottom perspective view with partsbroken away and shown in section of the carton of FIGURE 1 and shows thespecific details of one of the locking tabs thereof.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there isillustrated in FIGURE 1 a carton which is formed in accordance with thisinvention, the carton being generally referred to by the numeral 10. Thecarton 10 is specifically formed for receiving six containers arrangedin two rows of three c'ontainers each. The carton 10 is particularlyadapted for receiving cans having recessed end panels and both axial andtransverse projecting chimes or seams although the carton 10 may beutilized in the packaging of containers other than cans. Typical cansare shown in FIGURE 2 and are generally referred to by the numeral 11.Each can 11 includes a conventional can body 12 which has an end thereofclosed by means of a can end 13. Each can end 13 includes a recessed endpanel 14 which is secured to the associated can body12 by means of aconventional double seam 15 which is broadly considered to be a chime.It is to be noted that the seam or chime 15 projects axially of the endpanel 14 and surrounds the same and projects radially outwardly of thecan body 12. Inasmuch as the cans 11 in themselves do not form aspecific part of this invention from a structure standpoint, no furtherdescription will be made here as to the other structural details of thecans 11.

The carton 10 is formed from a one-piece blank which is generallyrectangular in outline and which blank is provided with a plurality oftransversely extending, interrupted fold lines 16, such as the foldlines 16 illustrated in FIGURE 4. The fold lines 16 divide the blank,which is generally referred to by the numeral 17, into a central panel18 which becomes the top panel of the carton 10. On each side of thepanel 18 is a pair of intermediately located side panels 19 and 20. Theside panel 19 has hingedly connected thereto a partial bottom panel 21while a second partial bottom panel 22 is hingedly connected to the sidepanel 20. It is to be understood that the opposed edge portions of thebottom panels 21 and 22 are disposed in overlapped relation and areconnected together by means of a suitable interlock, such as theinterlock 23. Inasmuch as the interlock in itself doe not form a part ofthis invention, it will not be described in detail here.

In order that lower portions of containers, such as cans 11, may beinterlocked with the carton 10, the bottom panel 11 is provided with anintegral upstanding keel 24. The keel 24 is provided with longitudinallyspaced notches 25 arranged in pairs on opposite sides thereof forreceiving the chimes or projecting seams 15 of cans or like containers.In addition, the carton 10 is provided along the fold line between thepanels 19 and 21 and the fold line between the panels 20 and 22 withgenerally H-shaped cuts 26 for the purpose of forming openings throughwhich the chime or seams of containers, such as the cans 11, may projectto form the desired interlock between outer portions of the carton 11and the containers at the bottom of the carton 10.

The fold lines 16 are interrupted by generally C-shaped cuts 27 whichhave extending from the central portions thereof straight cuts 28extending along-the side panels 19 and 20. The cuts 27 and 28 provideouter upper openings through which the upper chimes or seams of thecontainers may project to provide interlocks between the upper outerportions of the carton 10 and the containers 11.

In order to further stabilize containers within the upper portion of thecarton 10, the panel 18 is provided with a plurality of depending tabsor flaps 30 which are spaced longitudinally of the panel 18 along acentrally positioned line. It is to be noted that each tab or flap 30projects down into the interior of the carton 10 and is clamped 3between a pair of adjacent chimes or seams 15, as is clearly shown inFIGURE 3.

In order that the upper ends of the containers 11 may be furtherinterlocked with the carton and movement thereof endwise out of the openends of the carton 10 thus prevented, the panel 18 is further providedwith locking tabs which are generally referred to by the numeral 31.There is one locking tab 31 for each of the terminal containers in eachrow of containers. Thus, since the carton 10 is particularly adapted fortwo rows of containers, although there will be six containers within thecarton 10, there are only 4 of the locking tabs 31.

Each locking tab 31 is generally triangular in outline, as is best shownin FIGURE 4, and includes a straight side edge 32 and a curved side edge33. The base of each locking tab 31 is connected to the panel 18 along afold line 34 which forms a hinge. It is also to be noted that thelocking tab 31 has a transversely extending fold line 35, which ispreferably disposed parallel to the fold line 34 and which defines aterminal fiap 36. That portion of the locking tab 31 disposed betweenthe fold lines 34 and 35 may be considered to be a body portion and isidentified by the numeral 37.

At this time it is pointed out that the fold line 35 is of the normalwidth for fold lines conventionally utilized in conjunction withmaterial of the thickness from which the carton 10 is formed. On theother hand, the fold line 34 is very wide. By making the fold line 34wide, when the locking tab 31 is struck from the panel 18 and the bodyportion 37 is folded to a position 180 degrees from its originalposition, as is shown generally in FIGURES 2, 3 and 5, the material ofthe wide fold line 34 will define a connecting part 38 whichautomatically spaces the body portion 37 from the panel 18. Prior to thefolding of the body portion 37 completely to its position of FIGURE 3,the locking tab 31 is folded along the fold line 35 so that the terminalflap 36 becomes positioned between the body portion 37 and the panel 18.Thus, the body portion 37 is further spaced from the panel 18 by theterminal flap 36.

It is to be understood that the curved edge 33 of the locking tab 31 isin accordance with the curvature of the projecting part of the containerwhich surrounds the recessed end panel, that is the projecting seam orchime 15. Thus, when the panel 18 is firmly seated on a plurality of thecontainers 11 in the position shown in FIG- URES 2 and 3, that portionof the container 11 engaged by the curved side edge 33 will correspondto the curvature of the projecting seam or chime and form an interlockbetween the locking tab 31 and the associated container. Inasmuch as thebody portion 37 is spaced below the panel 18, it will be readilyapparent that a permanent interlock will be retained between the lockingtab 31 and the associated container 11.

It is to be noted that the panel 18 is provided with a pair of enlargedopenings 40 positioned between the tabs or flaps 30. The openings 40 arefinger receiving openings to facilitate the gripping of the carton 10and the carrying of the package formed therewith.

It is also to be noted that the panel 18 is provided with a depressibleflap 41 generally aligned with one of the finger receiving openings 40.The side panel 18 is provided with a plurality of slits 42 extendingdownwardly in generally diverging relation from the flap 41. The purposeof the flap 41 is to permit the insertion of ones fin- .ger behind theupper part of the panel 19 so that an outwardly directed pull may beexerted thereon with the result that the end panel 19 will rupture alongthe general line of the slits 42.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the carton 10 is greatlyenhanced in its container retaining characteristics by the provision ofthe specific locking flaps 31. It will also be readily apparent that thelocking flaps 31 may be formed from the material of the panel 18 withoutunduly weakening the panel. In addition, it will be apparent that thelocking flaps 31 are so configurated whereby even though the package ofwhich the carton 10 is a part is stored for a long period of time andrelaxation of the material of the carton along the fold lines may occur,the locking tabs 31 will remain fully seated within the recessed ends ofthe associated containers for prevention of the removal of thecontainers out through the open ends of the carton.

Although only a preferred embodiment of the invention has beenspecifically illustrated and described herein, it is to be understoodthat minor variations may be made in the illustrated carton constructionwithin the spirit and scope of this invention as defined by the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. In a carton of the wraparound type particularly adapted for use incombination with containers having recessed end panels, a carton panelhaving a folded locking tab projecting therefrom, said locking tabincluding a body portion in generally parallel spaced relation to saidcarton panel, a connecting part between said carton panel and said bodyportion for spacing said body portion from said carton panel at theconnection therewith, and a terminal flap on said body portion disposedbetween said carton panel and said body portion remote from saidconnecting part and retaining said body portion in said spaced relation,said connecting part being a portion of a wide fold line type hingebetween said carton panel and said body portion.

2. A blank for a carton of the wrap-around type, said carton blankincluding a panel adapted to engage ends of containers of the recessedend panel type, said panel having a locking tab struck therefrom forfolding out of the plane thereof, said locking tab including a bodyportion connected to said carton panel along a first fold line typehinge, and a terminal flap connected to said body portion along a secondfold line type hinge, said first hinge being of a greater transversedimension than said second hinge to automatically space said bodyportion from said carton panel when said body portion is reverselyfolded out of said carton panel.

3. The carton blank of claim 2 wherein said first and second fold linesare disposed parallel to said panel sides.

4. The carton blank of claim 2 wherein said first and second fold linesare disposed parallel to said panel sides and said locking tab istriangular in outline.

5. A package comprising a plurality of containers each having at leastone end with a recessed end panel and a surrounding axial projection,said containers being arranged in two rows and a carton wrapped aroundand interlocked with said containers, said carton having a panelopposing said container one ends and engaging said containerprojections, said carton panel having a locking tab for the terminalcontainers of each row of containers struck therefrom with the lockingtabs for each row of containers facing in the same direction and thelocking tabs of the two rows of containers facing away from the others,each locking tab including a body portion in generally parallel spacedrelation to said carton panel, a connecting part between said cartonpanel and said body portion for spacing said body portion from saidcarton panel at the connection therewith, and a terminal fiap on saidbody portion disposed between said carton panel and said body portionremote from said connecting part and retaining said body portion in saidspaced relation.

6. The package of claim 5 wherein said connecting part is a portion of awide fold line type hinge between said carton panel and said bodyportion.

7. The package of claim 5 wherein said carton panel is connected toother carton panels along the sides thereof, and said connecting partsare disposed parallel to said carton panel sides.

8. The package of claim 5 wherein each locking tab is triangular inoutline prior to the folding thereof whereby said terminal flapautomatically assumes an out of the Way 5 position when folded betweensaid body portion and said 2,814,385 carton panel. 2,888,135 ReferencesCited 2,959,340 3,049,282

UNITED STATES PATENTS Stone 206--65 Guyer 206-65 Hennessey 22940 Chidseyet a1. 22940 2,798,655 7/1957 Buttery et a1 20665 5 MARTHA L, RICE,Primary Examiner.

1. IN A CARTON OF THE WRAPAROUND TYPE PARTICULARLY ADAPTED FOR USE INCOMBINATION WITH CONTAINERS HAVING RECESSED END PANELS, A CARTON PANELHAVING A FOLDED LOCKING TAB PROJECTING THEREFROM, SAID LOCKING TABINCLUDING A BODY PORTION IN GENERALLY PARALLEL SPACED RELATION TO SAIDCARTON PANEL, A CONNECTING PART BETWEEN SAID CARTON PANEL AND SAID BODYPORTION FOR SPACING SAID BODY PORTION FROM SAID CARTON PANEL AT THECONNECTION THEREWITH, AND A TERMINAL FLAP ON SAID BODY PORTION DISPSEDBETWEEN SAID CARTON PANEL AND SAID BODY PORTION REMOTE FROM SAIDCONNECTING PART AND RETAINING SAID BODY PORTION IN SAID SPACED RELTION,SAID CONNECTING PART BEING A PORTION OF A WIDE FOLD LINE TYPE HINGEBETWEEN SAID CARTON PANEL AND SAID BODY PORTION.